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Dr. Andrew Rynne

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Difficulty In Swallowing After The Removal Of Wisdom Teeth, Pressure On The Face, Can Not Open The Jaw. What To Do?

Hi I had my 2 bottom wisdom teeth taken out on plus two other teeth (one which had been broken due to impacted wisdom tooth ) on Monday and everything has been ok until this morning when I woke up with what felt like a swallon gland and pressure in the right side of my face its not painful but its very uncomfortable and i m having trouble swallowing what can I do to heal quicker as I can t eat proper food and I cant open my jaw more than 3cms :(
Sat, 27 Jul 2013
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Dentist, Periodontics 's  Response
dear mokshit

it is very common to have the symptoms what you are having after wisdom tooth extraction. since third molar (wisdom tooth) removal involves lot of trauma to surrounding tissues, it will take time to heal. swelling is common and also difficulty in opening mouth. the symptoms should subside in a week. keep rinsing mouth with warm salt water often so that you can prevent infection. I am sure after extraction you would have been prescribed antibiotics and pain killers. take medications as prescribed. there is no short cut for healing. be patient and allow your tissues to heal. if the symptoms are very severe consult dentist immediately to rule out infection.

take care

regards

Dr.Avinash
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Dentist, Orthodontics Dr. Rachna Dubey's  Response
It is advisable to extract only one wisdom tooth at a time.After healing of one wisdom tooth socket ,then only plan for other (give approximately one and half month gap).For your problem take good antibiotic(Amoxy+clavu),analgesic,trypsin+chyamotripsin,muscle relaxants,b complex and antiseptic gargle for at least one week.Try to manage warm saline gargle 3-4 times a day.Wisdom tooth extraction is a major surgical procedure,it will take almost one month for healing.After extration follow all instructions given by dentist,donot miss medicin dose.Be patient and pass difficult time .
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Dentist Dr. Anshumala Singh's  Response
Dear friend.

Thanks for sharing your concern.

your symptoms suggest towards trismus(inability to open the jaw post extraction).

It also shows, there is infection developed at the extracted site. sometimes deeper tissue injury also cause trismus.

Therefore, i would suggest you to revisit your dentist and get the clinical examination done for the same.

A new course of antibiotics and analgesics should be started,and also keep a note that you keep chewing, chewing gums in your mouth.

Maintain good oral hygiene, by rinsing with antiseptic mouth washes.

Hope it helps.

Thanks.

Take care.
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3 Doctors agree with this answer

Dentist Dr. Juhi Soni's  Response
Hi,
Welcome to HCM forum
Pain, swelling, inability to open mouth are post extraction results so don't worry.
Gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water several times a day to reduce swelling and relieve pain for a week.
Do not use a straw for the first few days. Sucking on a straw can loosen the blood clot and delay healing.
Apply ice packs over the cheek to reduce swelling.
Eat soft foods, such as a thin soup. Gradually add solid foods to your diet as healing progresses.
Follow your prescription.
Take care
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Dentist Dr. Qazi Ammara's  Response
Hi,

Thanks for asking the query,

The above symptoms which you have mentioned is due to trauma caused at the time of extraction, or due to the post operative pain and swelling, you dont worry about the symptoms as they will subside after sometime.

Follow the post extraction instructions given the Dentist properly.
Take lukewarm saline and antiseptic mouthwash rinses.
Take complete course of antibiotics and analgesics and take muscle relaxents.
Take complete rest and avoid anxiety and stress.

Hope this helps out.

Regards..
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3 Doctors agree with this answer

Dentist Dr. Sapna Purwaha's  Response
hi
dont worry this is vety common .swelling will subside
in 24hrs .please rinse mouth witl warm saline water
twice a day for better and quick healing.analgesic
and antibiotuc will help.have vitamin supplements
and drink a lot water.avoid eatin from that side.
regards
dr.sapna
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Dentist Dr. Bindiya Bhaskar's  Response
hi..after removing wisdom tooth,difficulty in swallowing food is common .it occurs as a result of dry socket.take the full antibiotic course prescribed by your dentist.gargle frequently with saline warm water.dry socket occurs usually 3-4 days after removal of teeth.try to keep the extracted area in clean without any food lodgement.avoid over strain to your jaw.take rest for 3-4 days.thank you
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Dentist Dr. Varun Mishra's  Response
hello and welcome to hcm,
due to extraction of your wisdom teeth, you are experiencing post surgical problem which is very common due to wisdom tooth extraction.
due to rigorous cutting of bone, at the time of extraction,its a self healing process of osseous tissue.
it will subside within 5 days most of most. till then apply ice from outside and do not put toothbrush at that site and do hexidine gargles. if your mouth does not open wide after 1 week also then show it to the surgeon because might be tissue near your facial nerve is pierced deep. but chances are rare.
do not worry a lot and follow post extraction instructions and it all will be very fine.

thanks
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Dentist, Prosthodontics Dr. Shivangi Gajwani Jain's  Response
Hi,
The swelling is very normal after traumatic surgeries like wisdom tooth extraxtion and you have gotten 4 extractions together resulting in the same. To help in healing you need to do warm saline gargles 3-4 times/ day for a couple of days. I am sure your doctor has alsready put put you on anti inflammatory drugs to reduce swelling. it will ideally take 2-3 more days for the swelling to go down completely. The reduction in mouth opening is called trismus which also will go once the swelling reduces, you may need some muscle relaxant tablets for the same. If your condition does not improve in a day or two i would strongly recommend you to visit your dentist for a post treatment check up.
Regards
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Dentist Dr. Bibhu Dutt Nanda's  Response
hello and welcome to hcm forum moshkiy13,
i would be glad to answer your query, as you said you have recently got your lower 2 teeth extracted, i hope you are on antibiotics following extraction,if not then kindly ask your dentist to do so,
Inadequate mouth opening and swelling following extraction is due to the local anesthesia, sometimes while injecting local anesthesia one of our oral muscles gets injured, do not worry the effect is temporary and will wear off soon, just follow a few steps;
1. visit your dentist(he/she will prescribe oral muscle relaxants),
2. warm and cold compresses over the affected area(2-3times/day),
3. perform jaw exercises(open and close your mouth slowly),
4. war saline rinses(3-4times/day),
5. do not chew on hard stuff.
i hope i answered your query,
i wish you good health,
take care,
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Difficulty In Swallowing After The Removal Of Wisdom Teeth, Pressure On The Face, Can Not Open The Jaw. What To Do?

dear mokshit it is very common to have the symptoms what you are having after wisdom tooth extraction. since third molar (wisdom tooth) removal involves lot of trauma to surrounding tissues, it will take time to heal. swelling is common and also difficulty in opening mouth. the symptoms should subside in a week. keep rinsing mouth with warm salt water often so that you can prevent infection. I am sure after extraction you would have been prescribed antibiotics and pain killers. take medications as prescribed. there is no short cut for healing. be patient and allow your tissues to heal. if the symptoms are very severe consult dentist immediately to rule out infection. take care regards Dr.Avinash